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Mitchell said: “It’s been ten years since I went to the same event in Bolton.

“My target then was to win a game, which I did, but then I perhaps got a little ahead of myself and lost focus when it came to the second round.

“I don’t think that will happen this time.

“It would be great to get to the third round and win a couple of games, and that’s when all the top 32 players come into the draw.

“I would love to play against Michael van Gerwen, live on TV and on the big stage. Either that or hit a nine-darter! The prize money for that is £35,000.”

From left to right; Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright

Mitchell added: “I’m feeling nice and relaxed, and I can’t wait to get down there. No amount of snow is going to stop me.

“I’ve got to the stage where I don’t tend to feel the nerves any more, although there might be a few on the Friday morning, maybe.

“I really believe that comes from playing competitive darts, winning and being confident in how your game is going.

“For that I have the local leagues in Immingham and Grimsby to thank. Without them I wouldn’t have picked my darts back up a couple of years ago.

“I didn’t think this chance would come around again, so I am ready to make the most of it.”

If the long, long drive from Grimsby will see Mitchell clock up enough miles, his first round opponent has an even longer journey – Cody Harris is originally from New Zealand, although he has relocated to Wigan in a bid to boost his PDC chances.

The winner of the match will then face either Michael Barnard or Scott Robertson, and that is when the draw really starts to get interesting.

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld starts his charge at the second round stage, with the other big boys then landing in round three on Friday evening.

Indeed, the likes of van Gerwen, reigning champion Peter Wright and Gary Anderson are sure to be on the radar for the 32 Riley’s amateur qualifiers, like Mitchell.

But as far as the Grimsby contingent are concerned, all eyes will be on the Maverick, who will have his own cheering section in tow.

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Mitchell would like to thank Willie Weir for help with sponsorship, plus the Immingham summer league – and the Grimsby 501 Darts League – for providing him with a platform to get back on to the big stage.

He continued: “I would like to reserve a mention to everybody at the Station at Habrough, as playing there really helped me rediscover my enjoyment for the game.”